The following are articles written by moms honoring their moms.
“A mother’s heart is the child’s classroom.” – Henry Ward Beecher
by Reah Bunsoy Padla
“Mother”, “Mommy”, “Nanay”. No matter how you call your mother, she’ll always have a special place in your heart. I thank the Lord that my mom is still around because most of the things I know about motherhood, I have learned from her. She showed me the importance of being present in the lives of our children and I choose to be just like her, always wanting to be there for my two sons. My mom taught me about selfless love. She loved me and my siblings and placed our well-being and happiness above hers.
I will forever treasure the time when I was printing the last pages of my thesis. She stayed up late with me, making sure my classmates and I were well-fed and comfortable. In that moment, I told myself, I really want to be like my mother!
In the past year, I am grateful for being able to spend time with her after years of not living together. She is helping me with my new baby. What a blessing to have her around during this pandemic! I cannot imagine my “Quaranteam” without her in the picture. Lockdown isn’t as bad when mommy is around! Whenever I’m around her, I like the sound of “Mommy” coming from my mouth as it makes me feel like a kid again. When I feel anxious and worried, I find myself retreating to my mom’s room and just finding solace in her presence—like that little girl who used to cling to her mother.
I sometimes wonder if I’m a good mother. But then I remember my mom and the good role model she is. So yes, I know I will be okay. I just pray that someday, my kids will look at me with admiration the same way I adore my mom.
Food Was My Mom’s Love Language
by Wina Velasco Javier
The kitchen was an integral part of me and my three sisters’ early childhood training. We were carefully trained to properly slice and peel the ingredients and how to cautiously gouge the dirt from potatoes. From peeling off garlic skin to pounding the cloves in the mortar, mom would check on us and made sure that not a bit of garlic was left. She’d often say “ singko din yan, simutin nyo yan “ (that’s worth five centavos, make sure to use it all up).
Our mom made sure that we were fed with delicious and healthy meals. She also made it a point to share generously whatever dish she created. She always went out of her way carrying an extra bag full of goodies to give away. I remember my mom in a hundred and one ways about food, more particularly her special ‘ampalaya’ (bitter melon) recipe. I vividly remember her original quote about ampalaya in her preaching to her Christian friends; “ Wag kang magtanim ng ampalaya sa puso mo “ (Do not plant the gourd of bitterness in your heart).
My then suitor, and now husband, was actually picky when it came to food. He didn’t eat many vegetables and definitely not ampalaya! On one particular visit, my mom made her specialty dish, “stuffed ampalaya”. She literally forced him to taste it! He ate it but swore that he would never eat ampalaya again.
I have inherited the same cooking magic from my mom. My husband eats anything now and I didn’t have to force him nor my children to eat what is served before them. I’ve learned the love language of food from my mom, and she was proud of us four daughters who became good cooks like her.
Mom, I do miss you and sometimes I cry in a corner wishing you’re still here. I can’t claim I’m your favorite, but you impressed in me, in so many ways, that I am very dear and special to you. I love and miss you.
Wildflower
by Carla M. Labitoria
To write about my mother would be like a fused description of a garden as a vivid tapestry of colors, an abstract art and the powerful breaking of the waves in the ocean.
We were never well-off, but I grew up thinking that we were comfortable and thriving, or at least my mother did her best for us to feel so. She would cook us delicious meals and even when we were financially struggling, she still managed to put decent food on the table. We’d get that “special treatment” from her whenever we get sick, and I can still remember the warm happy feeling every time she tucked me into bed.
My mom was an interesting mixture of having a strong personality but soft-spoken and kind-hearted. She was God-fearing. Through her, I learned how to talk to God through prayer and to always trust in His ways. She was my example in how to be kind and generous without asking for anything in return.
Now that I’m a parent myself, I have come to believe that being a mother is one crucial role. The way we treat our child will impact how they treat others.
Mama, my best friend and K-drama buddy – thank you for being my hero! You always had my back through tough times. Your strengths, weaknesses and unconditional love as a mother have molded me to become a better person. You had your own share of pain and suffering, yet you remained to be courageous and kind. You never asked for anything in return. Like a wildflower, you continued to grow beautifully amidst harsh conditions. I love you and I truly miss you! Thank you, Mama – for everything!
